Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41593689›Full record

ArticleBMC health services research2026

Healthcare professionals' views on barriers, facilitators and optimisation of care for perinatal anxiety: a qualitative investigation.

Una Hutton, Amy Delicate, Patricia M Moran, Susan Ayers, Rafiyah Khan, Helen Cheyne, Judy Shakespeare, Margaret Maxwell, Kathryn Hollins, Rhiannon T Edwards and 3 more

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Article in BMC health services research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

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No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Una Hutton *Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research, City StGeorge's University of London, Northampton Square, London, EC1V 0HB, UK. una.hutton.3@city.ac.uk.
Amy Delicate *Institute of Applied Health Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
Patricia M MoranCentre for Maternal and Child Health Research, City StGeorge's University of London, Northampton Square, London, EC1V 0HB, UK.
Susan AyersCentre for Maternal and Child Health Research, City StGeorge's University of London, Northampton Square, London, EC1V 0HB, UK.
Rafiyah KhanKings Centre for Military Health Research, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, 10 Cutcombe Road, Weston Education Centre, London, SE5 9RJ, UK.
Helen CheyneFaculty of Health Science and Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK94LA, UK.
Judy ShakespeareRetired General Practitioner, Oxford, UK.
Margaret MaxwellFaculty of Health Science and Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK94LA, UK.
Kathryn HollinsSurrey and Borders Partnership NHS Trust, 18 Mole Business Park, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 7AD, UK.
Rhiannon T EdwardsCentre for Health Economics and Medicines Evaluation, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2PZ, UK.
Andrea SinesiFaculty of Health Science and Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK94LA, UK.
Rose MeadesCentre for Maternal and Child Health Research, City StGeorge's University of London, Northampton Square, London, EC1V 0HB, UK.
MAP ALLIANCE Study Team

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe experience of pregnancy and having a baby is a time of significant change and transition. One in five perinatal women experience problems with their emotional wellbeing and mental health in this period; adjustment, anxiety and depressive illnesses being most common. Whilst investment in specialist perinatal mental health pathways continues, there is limited understanding of healthcare professionals' views and experiences of these pathways and of support available for women with mild or moderate mental health problems. This study explored healthcare professionals' views on the barriers and facilitators to identification and management of perinatal anxiety, and on how to optimise care pathways.

methodsIn-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of healthcare professionals in universal perinatal services (including maternity, primary care, and health-visiting) and specialist (including talking therapies, maternal and perinatal) mental health services. Data were analysed using framework analysis.

resultsInterviews were conducted with 62 healthcare professionals from England and Scotland. 40% of the sample stated they had received no training in perinatal mental health, and 45% reported that they did not use standardised or validated questions or scales when enquiring about mental health. Themes related to barriers, facilitators, and service optimisation are presented for each stage of their care pathway: identification; disclosure; referral and assessment; care and treatment. Recommendations for optimising care included improving mental health education and training to strengthen perinatal healthcare and developing a sustainable perinatal mental health pathway, including for women with mild mental health problems.

conclusionsHealthcare professionals considered that the healthcare pathway for women with severe mental health problems was clear and well-developed, but that healthcare for women with mild and moderate anxiety and mental health problems was under-developed. Improvements in perinatal mental health education, in mandatory training for healthcare professionals, should be put in place in order to improve care. Increasing the number of staff and time available to address perinatal mental health is vital but requires additional resources and should be part of long-term strategies for funding.

Indexed as

AnxietyAttitude of Health PersonnelPerinatal CarePregnancy ComplicationsAdultEnglandFemaleHealth Services AccessibilityHumansInterviews as TopicMental Health ServicesPregnancyQualitative ResearchScotlandAssessmentBarriers and facilitatorsCare pathwayHealthcare professionalsPerinatal anxietyTrainingTreatment

Identifiers

PMID41593689
PMCPMC12918375

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.